Evaluation Core

EVALUATION CORE―ABSTRACT The Evaluation Core (EvalCore) for NURTURE: Northwestern University Recruitment to Transform Under- Representation and achieve Equity will evaluate and continuously improve our proposed ecosystem aimed at transformation to inclusive excellence. The EvalCore will use a systems approach that is equitable, participatory,

and continuously improving. It will monitor and track the progress of the program and participants; assess interventions; map interactions and networks; monitor timelines; deeply examine knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors; and report progress toward the stated overall aims. These activities have been designed to both

limit any evaluation burden on program participants and ensure that the NURTURE leadership, investigators, and advisors have a deep view into the complex and layered structure and operations of NURTURE, and can therefore refine, improve and empower its activities. Program evaluation will be accomplished through the

following Specific Aims. Aim 1: Coordinate with other FIRST programs. The EvalCore will collaborate with the FIRST CEC and the FIRST awardee institutions to develop and coordinate evaluation activities, reporting, and cross-institution research metrics and approaches. Aim 2: Develop the evaluation framework and operations

needed to assess the primary outcomes. EvalCore will use well-established strategy, metrics, workflows, and quantitative and qualitative data measures and sources for evaluation in a systems approach to evaluation and research. Our approach is based on participatory and utilization-focused assessments that integrate evaluation

data, reflection and feedback from across the system to advance the goal of NURTURE to create inclusive excellence. This evaluation framework will help NURTURE test the hypothesis that a cohort model of faculty hiring within a sustaining culture valuing inclusive excellence will achieve significant improvements in metrics of

institutional culture and scientific workforce diversity among biomedical research faculty. Aim 3: Implement existing formative evaluations, and develop new ones as needed, for continuous improvement. The EvalCore, in collaboration with the other cores of NURTURE, will employ mixed methods to evaluate the efficacy of the

NURTURE program elements. By exploring how each program element impacts the members of the NURTURE cohort and the broader Northwestern community, we will adapt program elements as needed to achieve success. Aim 4: Communicate results for maximum impact. The EvalCore will establish a robust dissemination

infrastructure to drive accountability and transformative impact at Northwestern and beyond. It will provide and leverage FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reproducible) dissemination channels to support equitable knowledge translation and capacity building for the NURTURE program and its recruited cohort. These

channels will be used to communicate the results of NURTURE and the broader FIRST program.